Posted by Seth Burgess on Fri, Jun 04, 2010 @ 02:16 PM
In a horse industry career or in an equine business it pays to know where the horse industry is going next; what products and services will soon be in demand. Successful horse people are the ones who get ready for the next trend before it gets here in a big way. Being a leader instead of a follower may make the difference between success and failure.
In my opinion, the horse industry is making a shift from one emphasis to another. Training and competing are on the wane and horses are becoming more in-depth personal companions and perhaps even spiritual guides. Before you get defensive or angry, let me say that training and competition will be around for a long time yet, and probably will always be part of what people do with horses. However, training and competition are well established games in which the competition is formidable. If you want to get in on the ground floor in providing contemporary training services, or in modern competition, it is too late. The right moment for getting in on the ground floor probably occurred 75-100 years ago.
Right now, there is an emerging arena of activities with horses which might be described as relationship oriented, growth and learning oriented, and spiritual in nature. New trends frequently get started because they are responding to an emerging trend in our general society. Western society itself is going through a transition. We are learning more self-awareness, more recognition that we all depend on each other, more sense of connectedness to nature, and a new scientific understanding that we are not here just by chance.
The business of horses is beginning to respond to this broader trend. The ground floor is now. Organizations like Epona, EAGALA, and Parelli, to name a few, are focusing more and more on the human/horse relationship, and less on just training and competition. Getting involved on the ground floor of something is always risky, because you are never certain that your crystal ball is totally clear. Certainty will only come in hind sight, and by then the ground floor will be long gone.
As long as there are people and horses, people will want to be involved with horses. Inevitably, this will lead to equine related businesses and equine employment. Success will come to those who choose the right ground floor to get in on.
What do you think? Leave me a comment.
Posted by Seth Burgess on Sun, Apr 11, 2010 @ 03:27 PM
Sometimes an article comes along from outside the horse industry which speaks volumes to people looking for equine jobs. Here is just such an article by Susan Adams from Forbes.
How to Find a Job When You've Been Looking Forever
For more information on building careers in the horse industry take a look at The Career Game, a free on-line tool for building a career in equine employment.
Posted by Seth Burgess on Sun, Mar 07, 2010 @ 02:59 PM
The American Horse Publications Association (AHP) just released the results from the Equine Industry Survey. 11,171 people participated. The statistics show positive trends in the horse industry despite hard economic times. Some of the statistics reflect good things ahead for equine employment.
Over half of the participants expect to remain at the same level of participation in the horse industry over the next two years. Looking at the years 2007-2009, the age of participants is getting younger and the income levels are getting higher. Looking forward to the next two years, the trend of younger people is likely to continue, but income levels are not expected to be a factor.
The majority of participants said they would deal with the increasing costs of horse ownership by reducing costs in other areas in their lives (not by reducing the number of horses.) 70% of the participants say that they participated in more or the same number of competitions with their horses in 2009 as they did in 2007. About 80% of participants say they expect to own the same number of horses or more horses in 2011 as they did in 2007.
All of these results are positive for horse jobs. Most people are keeping their horses and are continuing to use them in competition. Look for more information on the results of the study at a web site or in a magazine near you.
If you missed out on participating in the study, you can participate in our five-question, two minute survey about the horse industry economy and see how everybody else feels for free.
Posted by Seth Burgess on Fri, Mar 05, 2010 @ 12:56 PM
In these tough economic times, equine employers are under a lot of financial pressure. Even when the best financial practices are followed, it is easy for horse job employers to slip into cash flow problems without much warning. When employers who have horse jobs are looking around for ways to conserve cash, it is very tempting for some of them to delay paying their help. After all, the help is not likely to sue or cut off credit. It is also hard for people in horse jobs to object when the alternative is quitting.
It is very easy for people who have jobs with horses to feel sorry for their employer or sorry for the horses and fall into the trap of going along with late or reduced pay. This is a slippery slope upon which employees will quickly teach their employer that it is O.K. to take advantage of them. The best time to handle this problem is the moment it first occurs. Employees are NOT creditors. The vet, the farrier and the feed company might be extending credit, but people in horse jobs should avoid extending credit to employers at all costs.
When your employer comes to you to explain why your pay needs to be delayed or reduced, be ready in advance to state your position. No matter what your employer tells you, your job is on the line and you must be ready to make quick and effective decisions to protect yourself. You will be the best judge of how to proceed in your individual situation, but don't go along with your employer just on the hope that things will be better tomorrow, and don't be complacent about your situation.
In most situations where an employer asks you to take a pay cut, or a delay in being paid, the financial situation is not going to get better quickly. Your best alternative may be to go along temporarily, but immediately start looking for a new job. If things turn around, you don't have to take a new job. Going along temporarily may not mean staying silent. You may wish to say to your employer that you cannot afford to extend credit to him/her, that you have bills to pay too. You may wish to indicate a specific length of time that you will accept the new arrangement. Use your judgment in your individual situation, but don't put your head in the sand and just hope things will get better.
Posted by Seth Burgess on Tue, Feb 09, 2010 @ 03:18 PM
How is the Horse Industry economy really doing? I hear all sorts of hopes and complaints, but what is really going on?
Is the horse industry economy still getting worse, has it leveled out, is it starting to get better? What do you think? Do you think we are suffering more than other industries? Are you optimistic about the future of the industry?
It's time to "take the temperature" of the horse industry economy. Is it hot or cold? Give me your opinion. Take this five-question two-minute survey and see all the results.
To participate, Click Here .